RESPONDING TO CALAMITY
Calamity is inescapable.
As you know your parents, so too, must you know it in your bones, God will test you: ‘Be sure, We shall test you’ [2:155]. And when it strikes, you and I must surrender with the proclamation ‘From God we come and to Him we return.’ [2:156]
This phrase is the Muslim’s manifesto to brandish in the face of adversity and console the afflicted heart and mind. No other condolence is so settling to the soul. In it, we understand God alone is the heir; we possess nothing.
When I recognise that even my life is not mine, but an entrustment, only then will I refrain from misusing it, and use it to worship God and serve His creation?
So too are all my possessions and my children. They are but tests and trusts endowed to lead me to myself: adversity introduces a man to himself.
At calamity’s genesis, the first station is patience. But for many, the station is unfamiliar, unknown or altogether lost. Yet, Allah nested the verse, ‘Be sure, We shall test you,’ between two verses, which summoned patient perseverance. Patience is the conditional virtue which connects us to God and heralds glad tidings of heavenly gifts to the observer.
These profound verses (2:153-157) teach us that we do not endure hardship for endurance’s sake, but with the knowledge that through constancy and perseverance, we gather our true selves, God, and His gifts unto ourselves.
LOVE YOUR ENEMY
Defocus from the self, and you will leave behind the road which only yesterday tormented your mind.
The Prophet (s) always focused on the well-being of others, even his enemies.
One of the highest expressions of benevolence from the Prophet (s) was on the day he (s) and Zaid bin Haritha (ra) were stoned, reviled and violently chased from Taif by its townspeople and children.
The Prophet (s) recounted the tale to his beloved wife, Aishah (ra), and noted that it was the most traumatic experience of his life, even graver than the Battle of Uhud.
After the ordeal, the Prophet (s), tormented and fraught with pain, was visited by the angel Gabriel (as) and given the offer to exact vengeance against his tormentors. But the Prophet (s), faithful to his office of Uswatun Hasanah—Mercy to Humanity—said, ‘No, rather I hope Allah will bring out from their progeny those who would worship Allah alone without associating any partners with Him’ [Bukhari 3231 and Muslim 1795].
I know you are hurting. So am I. We feel helpless about the horrific livestream genocide unfolding on our screens and ask ourselves daily, “What can I do?”
I say to you, ‘Write.’
Go to war with your pen (keyboard) and pressure the South African government, through the Presidency and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, to shut down the Israeli embassy in South Africa.
Click on the template link (send as is or rewrite or edit in your own words) below and send an email (resend your original email weekly) to flood the following inboxes, and remember to sign your name. Kindly share this campaign:
president@presidency.gov.za
info@cyrilramaphosa.org
minister@dirco.gov.za
cicc@dirco.gov.za
rosahelp@dirco.gov.za
info@dirco.gov.za
Until next week, InshaAllah
Zaahied Sallie
Author of The Beloved Prophet – An Illustrated Biography in Rhyme
Thanks for reading. Every Friday, I share thoughts and ideas to help cultivate the link between Allah, the Prophet and me (meaning YOU). Enter your email now and become part of the link.
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